Amit Shah threatened to topple Mann govt…dictatorship: Arvind Kejriwal

Canvassing for BJP candidates in Punjab on Sunday, Shah at a poll rally in Ludhiana said that “the Bhagwant Mann government will not last long after the BJP’s victory in the Lok Sabha polls”.

Addressing media in Bathinda, alongwith CM Mann, Kejriwal accused Shah of using abusive language in his speeches in Punjab. “We condemn the sadak-chhap bhasha used by Home Minister in his speeches…We will take to masses that how Home Minister and Prime Minister are threatening Punjabis. In fact, they hate Punjabis,” he saidand alleged that the BJP leaders were openly saying that they would threaten the legislators with the CBI and the ED and then “buy” them.

“I want to tell him… do not threaten the people of Punjab. Otherwise, they will make it difficult for you to enter Punjab,” the Delhi chief minister added.

Stating that “Such language was never used by any home minister,” he asked, “What plan do you (Shah) have to topple the government? Will you scare the people of Punjab with ED and CBI? Or will you impose president’s rule?”

Reacting to Kejriwal’s allegation, BJP’s Gajendra Singh Shekhawat claimed Shah did not say that the AAP government would be toppled. He further said that people in Punjab are “feeling cheated” and “completely dissatisfied” with the AAP government and are praying to be freed from its “misrule.”

Kejriwal also slammed the Centre for withholding Rs 9,000 crore of Punjab’s share of funds including Rs 5,500 crore of rural development fund. “They are indulging in ‘gundagardi’ (hooliganism) and there is dictatorship. There should be no politics over development…This is not their money. It is the money of the people of Punjab,” he said.

Mann too hit out at Shah. “Do you have the courage to topple the government? We have 92 seats. They are threatening us. Are you coming (here) to seek votes or threaten to topple the government? We are not bikau (saleable). Look at the arrogance, one with two seats seats (in House off 117) is giving threats to us,” said Mann.

He said the AAP will continue to remain in power in Punjab for next 15 years. “We have seven Rajya Sabha members.

We are contesting on more than 30 seats and we will win them. AAP is emerging as a big power,” he said.

The Punjab CM also took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I want to remind PM Modi that it is bad to issue threats to Punjabis. PM knows this well. Farmers protested at Delhi borders for 13 months and finally he had to give in”.
“After 10 years, the prime minister is unable to talk about building schools and giving jobs. He just speaks about ‘mangalsutra’, meat and ‘Pakistan. They practise politics of hatred,” the Punjab CM added.

Kejriwal, who during the day led two roadshows — one each in Jalandhar and Ludhiana — said that the AAP governments made electricity free in Delhi and Punjab. “Power tariff is highest in BJP ruled states. Still BJP calls me corrupt. You tell me whether the one who gives free electricity is corrupt or the one who gives electricity at the costliest rate is corrupt?,” he asked in Ludhiana, where he canvassed for party candidate Pawan Kumar Tinu.

The Delhi CM said that in the Assembly elections, Punjab voters elected 92 AAP MLAS. “Now strengthen our hands by giving us 13 MPs”.

In Ludhiana, campaigning for AAP candidate Ashok Parashar Pappi, Kejriwal said vote to BJP would mean that zero power bills in Punjab would stop. “Amit Shah…has weaved a conspiracy to again make you pay electricity bills and stop your zero bills. You will stop getting zero electricity bills if you vote for BJP,” he said, adding “Have you watched (PM) Modi’s interview? He is calling himself an incarnation of God. His arrogance has reached heights, demolish it this time”.

In first such attack on its INDIA bloc ally Congress, Kejriwal said that party’s Ludhiana candidate Amrinder Singh Raja Warring was an “outsider.”